Mr Gillam, who lives in Shoreham-by-Sea, says he has built a new home for the slow worms and planted a hedge which it is hoped will lead the dormice from their current home to a new habitat away from the construction site.

When built, the restaurant will feature a 66-space car park, a bar, and seating for 172 diners.

Work started on the new entrance on Wednesday

The two-storey building, which will feature toilets and staff facilities above the restaurant, will be built at a slight angle facing traffic travelling towards the town centre from Kennington.

On Wednesday, work began on a new entrance which will be installed off the A28.

Mr Gillam, who does not own the former playing field behind the plot, had previously spoken to Starbucks and Greggs about opening a site next to the steakhouse, but is concentrating on getting the restaurant built first instead.

Mitchells and Butlers already operates about 1,700 restaurants and pubs across the country, and is one of the largest employers in the UK with more than 44,000 staff on its books.

Its steak is aged on the bone for a minimum of seven days, then matured for a further 21.

The company has a number of steakhouses across the country, including in Sheffield, Edinburgh and Exeter.

Further down the road, work to transform a derelict hotel into a seafood restaurant and country pub is well underway after the project was given the green light by council officers.

The Croft Hotel in Canterbury Road, Kennington, is being worked on

The Croft Hotel in Kennington is being turned into the Stubbs Restaurant, which will specialise in raw seafood and house a cosy country pub.

The husband-and-wife duo - who have a track record of turning failing pubs into successful eateries - sold five of their restaurants, including The Old Mill not far from The Croft, to Shepherd Neame for £11.9 million in 2016.

They now plan to remodel the existing building into a dog-friendly pub with open log fires, local ales and beers and a cellar of wines after the council approved the planning application in June.

Alex and Helen Bensley previously transformed The Golden Ball into The Old Mill

The £4 million project - which also includes the sale price of £1.8m - will see an extension constructed to make room for a new seafood restaurant, large kitchen, oyster and shellfish bar and dining room.

An outside seating area on a heated terrace is also planned, as well as boutique-style accommodation in lodges at the side of the former hotel.

It will cater for 175 diners, with 125 in the main restaurant area and 50 in the bar area.

"We have got planning permission - so now it's full steam ahead," Mr Bensley said. "We have got to meet 28 conditions to meet but the council has been unbelievably supportive.

"So far we have renovated the existing building from the basement - the building was virtually derelict and now it is in prime condition.

"The rafters have been repaired and all the windows have been replaced.

"It's a complex and ambitious project but I believe in it enough to spend £4 million on it.

"It will be 'on the next level' for Ashford..." Mr Bensley

"I think Ashford needs it."

Mr Bensley plans to appoint 75 new staff members, with most of the positions already filled, including a head chef, manager and wine waiter.

The menu will be based around fresh local fish, shellfish and farm produce and meat from the Marchants of Bethersden, as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Mr Bensley, who previously told KentOnline how his vision is to cater for the "more affluent, business and mature market", added: "It will be a high quality pub with a good wine cellar and a seafood restaurant serving raw fish.

"The Kennington area is quite affluent, there's a lot of retired people and business folk, so I am quite confident it will work.

How the site looked inside, pictured in December

"It will be 'on the next level' for Ashford."

Stubbs Restaurant will open from 11am to 11pm seven days a week.

Last January, controversial plans to demolish the hotel were turned down by the council.

Developers wanted to build nine four-bedroom homes on the site, but planning officers at ABC dismissed the proposal, calling the hotel a “valuable tourist facility” which should not be lost.

In 2016, Mr Bensley sold The Old Mill, the Oak on the Green and the Fish on the Green in Bearsted, the Chequers on the Green in High Halden and the Swan and Dog in Great Chart to Shepherd Neame.

He has previously transformed numerous other pubs, including The Hooden Horse in Great Chart.